How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
IMOGEN
My lord, I fear,
Has forgot Britain. (1.6.133-134)
It's not just that Posthumus has forgotten Imogen—it's that he's forgotten his homeland as well. Imogen tells Iachimo she's worried that Posthumus will never come back, even if he has the chance. She's the princess, so she has to stay in Britain. Will national boundaries spell the end of their marriage?
Quote #2
POSTHUMUS
That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions now in Gallia sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. (2.4.20-23)
Philario gets an earful from Posthumus, who wants to talk about whether or not Britain should pay Rome. It takes some guys to praise your country and your people when you're in the enemy's camp.
Quote #3
CLOTEN
Britain's a world
By itself, and we will nothing pay
For wearing our own noses. (3.1.14-16)
Cloten's trying to sound all tough, but it comes out sounding pretty stupid. It sound so stupid, in fact, that it's almost as if Shakespeare is making fun of this kind of blind patriotism. Aside from the Queen, Cloten's the only one this gung-ho about the war, after all—and that's not a glowing recommendation for blind patriotism.